Solving Proportions with Algebraic Expressions A review of the cross-products property and the distributive property
The Cross-Products Property
The Distributive Property What is the distributive property? a(b + c) = ab + ac HERE is the PROOF:
The Distributive Property For this one we will use a geometric proof Begin with: a(b + c) Create a rectangle with lengths a, b, c similar to the following: b + c a
The Distributive Property a(b + c) Find the Area of each piece of the rectangle: b + c aab ac
The Distributive Property a(b + c) Add the Areas to Find the Answer: ab + ac SO… a(b + c) = ab + ac b + c aab ac
Putting it All Together
Example 2